Magnum
Speos 24-25
Se que la de arriba nunca me olvida
Alejandra Quintana
x
Introduction
Around the world, there exists a cult where over 12 million people venerate death not as an ending, but as a divine protector. This figure is La Santa Muerte or Holly Death, a folk saint born in Mexico whose image merges pre-Hispanic traditions with Catholic symbolism. Though not officially recognized by the Church, her presence is deeply rooted in families, passed down through oral histories and private rituals. n 2001, this devotion became public when a life-sized statue was placed outside a home in Tepito, Mexico City, and open rosaries began to gather followers in the streets. Her image a skeletal figure draped in the robes of the Virgin strikes fear and fascination alike. For some, she resembles the Grim Reaper; for others, she is a compassionate mother. Despite being often linked to organized crime and labeled a “narco-saint,” the devotion to La Santa Muerte goes far beyond that. For millions, she is a spiritual refuge, a powerful entity who listens, protects, and ultimately guides them from the day they begin praying to her until the day she comes to take them.
This project seeks to look beyond the darkness and fear. As a Mexican photographer living in Paris, I am drawn to the complexity of this devotion, not to romanticize it, but to understand and humanize it. I have spent months speaking with devotees, attending ceremonies, and photographing their sacred spaces. My aim is to document the light within this belief: how it provides comfort, identity, and resilience to people who often live at the margins of society.
I use natural light and minimal intervention, letting each subject and altar speak for themselves. My approach is intimate and respectful. These images are not meant to explain or justify faith, but to honor it.
This is not a story about death. It is a story about presence, about being seen, and about the quiet certainty that “la de arriba” the one above, never forgets us.
Alejandra Quintana is a Mexican photographer based in Paris, with a background in photography and design. Her work focuses on documentary and travel photography, with an intuitive approach grounded in emotional truth, spirituality, and the subtle complexity of human experience. She is particularly drawn to the relationship between individuals and life what leads people to faith, how they create meaning, and what gives them the strength to continue. Her photographic practice is guided by a deep interest in how people navigate grief, hope, and identity, especially within a world shaped by extremes and polarizing ideologies that often hinder mutual understanding. Her visual language is minimal and instinctive, built on trust and quiet observation. She works mainly with natural light and lets each subject and space define the tone of the image. Outside of photography, she finds inspiration in reading about music, poetry, philosophy, and art not for performance or analysis, but as a way to deepen her understanding of the human condition. These reflections feed directly into her work, making it both introspective and socially engaged.
